The Division of Student Affairs announces a newly-formed department, the Office for Religious, Spiritual and Ethical Life (ORSEL). The office seeks to serve students of any/no religious or spiritual identities.
Brought forth from a proposal submitted by students, ORSEL seeks to provide more institutional support to the diverse religious, spiritual and ethical communities of WashU students and those seeking to promote interfaith work or religious literacy. The office will also help create a more effective institutional relationship with the Interfaith Campus Ministries Association.
Currently housed in the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, the new Office for Religious, Spiritual and Ethical Life offers the following resources:
- Assistance connecting students with a religious, spiritual or ethical community
- Support for the diverse religious/spiritual groups serving our students (the Interfaith Campus Ministries Association)
- Pastoral care: a listening ear for those who wish to talk about anything, religious or not
- Provide interfaith dialogue and learning opportunities
- Maintain a directory of spaces on campus for prayer and reflection
Rev. Callista Isabelle is the newly-appointed Director for the Office for Religious, Spiritual and Ethical Life. In her role as director, Callista will collaborate with the Interfaith Campus Ministries Association, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, student groups and other organizations to help build bridges among diverse faiths and provide resources on campus.
According to Callista, “I’m excited to work with students of any/no religious or spiritual background to deepen the support we can offer. I look forward to getting to know them.”
Previously, Rev. Isabelle also served as the associate university chaplain at Yale University and the college chaplain at Muhlenberg College. She earned her Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School, and a certificate from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College. Callista is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.